Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 4: Work

Chapter 4: Work

“Pfft.”

The spear pierced through the man’s chest. Blood dripped down along the spearhead and soon gathered into a small pool on the ground.

Cang Chuli looked up. The man’s face was blurred, but he could still see the corners of the man’s mouth, usually curved in a smile, drooping downward.

His lips seemed to move, yet not move at all. “Live… on…”

The scene shifted again. This time, it was a woman dressed in fine brocade robes, blood at the corner of her mouth and wounds covering her body. Even so, she still spoke to him gently.

“Li’er, don’t be afraid. He’s here.”

Cang Chuli’s eyes flew open. The pale blue gauze curtains wrapped around the bed frame drifted at his bedside.

When he opened the door, he said to the guard outside, “Have Uncle Zhao come see me.”

Before long, Uncle Zhao came in through the cold wind, limping as he walked.

“Young Master, you’ve only just returned. Why not sleep a little longer? It’s not even noon yet. You traveled all through the night, paid your respects to His Majesty this morning, and then came back and dealt with that troublesome lot…”

Then he saw his young master reaching for the cup of cold tea on the table.

“Young Master, don’t drink cold tea. I’ll have someone bring hot tea instead.”

Uncle Zhao was just about to call out the door when Cang Chuli raised a hand to stop him.

Only after his young master had drained the icy tea and let out a long breath did Cang Chuli slowly ask, “What is the situation with the remaining few?”

“We had originally prepared two courtyards, but since there aren’t many people now, they’re all settled in Old He’s former courtyard. His place is better stocked.

“Also, the young lady sent by the Emperor asked me to pass something on to you.”

Cang Chuli took it and looked. It was a silver dart, engraved with a single vertical line.

In an instant, he remembered what Dongfang Wei had said after court the day before yesterday.

“In a couple of days, I’ll send someone to you. It will make it easier for us to exchange messages. Use this as the token when the time comes.”

He had nearly forgotten.

“Two of the young women are still unconscious, so we’ve settled them in their rooms. The other three chose their own rooms,” Uncle Zhao added.

“In your view, what about the one who poured the tea?” Cang Chuli asked.

Uncle Zhao pursed his lips.

“That young lady really does seem frightened out of her wits. She didn’t know anything and just followed along. She tripped in the middle of the path, and when Liu Xiaozi helped her up, she didn’t react much either.

“Liu Xiaozi said her pulse was strong, but in complete disorder. From the looks of it, though, she was calmer than the other five.”

Cang Chuli tilted his head slightly.

“A strong pulse? So she is in good health?”

Uncle Zhao looked as if he had choked on his words.

“…I’m not certain.”

Cang Chuli fell silent in thought for a moment.

“Move her over. Keep a close eye on her. Let’s see exactly which families sent these women in.”

“Young Master! That won’t do! It’s too dangerous!” Uncle Zhao hurriedly tried to stop him.

“It’s fine. I wasn’t injured this time, and we even caught a few traitors and got some information out of them.

“Move these women over. A while ago, we spread the news that I was wounded. Let’s see if we can hook a big fish.”

The corner of Cang Chuli’s mouth curved up, carrying a hint of wickedness.

“Right, the goods have been delivered to Zhouzhuang. Remember to retrieve them in a couple of days. They are some fine Tujue goods, after all.”

“Understood! This old servant will go inform Deputy General Zhang at once. Young Master, rest assured, it will be just like before!”

A sharp gleam appeared in Uncle Zhao’s eyes as well.

“I’ll have those women moved over tomorrow. I’ll also have the personal guards begin standing watch tomorrow. Young Master, you must be careful too.”

Cang Chuli gave a slight nod. After Uncle Zhao took his leave, he withdrew from the room.

==========

“Father, you’re letting those women, who are obviously up to no good, go take care of the Young Master? Isn’t that like sending a lamb into a tiger’s den?! Don’t let them take care of him until there’s nothing left of him!”

Uncle Zhao raised his hand and gave his son a sharp rap on the head.

“What nonsense are you spouting? Who’s the lamb? Young Master has been charging across battlefields for ten years.

“What could a few pieces of trash who couldn’t even fool Liu Xiaozi possibly do?!

“I’m sending you over there to keep an eye on them. Make things clear to your brothers too. Watch them closely for me.”
“Every life in our family was given to us by the Old Marquis. If anything happens to the young master, you can die alongside your father to atone for it!”

Zhao Fu rubbed the bump his own father had knocked onto his head, looking thoroughly aggrieved.

“I know, Dad! I was just saying. I was scared too, okay? Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the men know. We absolutely won’t let those women out of our sight, not even for a single step!”

Unaware that she had already been labeled as “in good health,” Xia Heng only felt like her stomach was about to revolt…

Hadn’t Uncle Zhao said someone would bring food over?

This body had probably been sent here before it had even had time to eat breakfast!

Unable to stop herself, she opened the shop interface. She had only just gotten those precious 10 points.

Was she really going to spend points on food on her very first day after transmigrating?

Knock, knock, knock.

While Xia Heng was still hesitating, she heard knocking from outside the courtyard gate.

Creak.

A woman in blue stepped quickly out of the room facing the gate. In a few swift movements, she opened the courtyard gate and welcomed Uncle Zhao and his party inside.

In that short span of time, Xia Heng had also come out. Not knowing what she ought to do, she could only follow behind the woman in blue.

The other rooms remained silent.

Three young women followed behind Uncle Zhao, each carrying two food boxes. As Xia Heng looked over, she saw a round-faced girl holding a food box smile shyly at her.

Behind them were another five or six burly men, each carrying several bundles.

“This old servant has brought lunch for you ladies. Also, these are the belongings you brought with you when you arrived. You two may claim yours first.”

Xia Heng carefully chose the bundle that had the same pattern as her handkerchief.

The woman in blue also selected her own luggage. Uncle Zhao immediately arranged for the men carrying the bundles to send their things into their rooms, and had each of them take a food box as well.

The remaining food boxes and bundles, which had yet to be claimed, were temporarily placed in the small kitchen.

“Now that you young ladies have entered the General’s Mansion, you are people of the General’s Mansion. Tomorrow morning, someone will come to take you to your duties. Starting tomorrow, you will take your meals with everyone else in the residence, and we will no longer deliver food to you separately. Please be sure to organize your belongings on your own.”

As he spoke, Uncle Zhao noticed the bedding hanging out in the courtyard to air. His gaze paused for a moment. He probably had not expected that even in such circumstances, someone would still remember to sun their bedding.

“It’s from my room. It felt a little damp, so I thought I’d take advantage of the sunlight and air it out. That way it will be more comfortable to sleep in tonight.”

Xia Heng spoke anxiously.

“Quite right.” Uncle Zhao withdrew his gaze with a genial smile. After giving Xia Heng a once-over, he asked gently, “May I ask which young lady you are?”

“I am Xia Heng of the Xia family. You may call me Ah Heng.”

Xia Heng answered according to the background given in the original novel. Uncle Zhao nodded, then turned toward the woman in blue.

“Qiulin.”

The woman in blue answered at once. As she did, she nodded to Xia Heng. Xia Heng hurriedly copied her gesture and returned the courtesy.

Uncle Zhao nodded and instructed them, “If the other ladies wake up, may I trouble you two to pass along the message? If the food has gone cold, it can be warmed in the small kitchen. In that case, I shall not disturb you any further.”

With that, he called the young servants and maids to leave.

Only after seeing Steward Zhao out of the courtyard gate did Xia Heng realize that Uncle Zhao’s legs did not seem to be in very good condition. He walked with a slight limp.

“Then I’ll return to my room first,” Qiulin said politely.

“Mm, all right.”

Xia Heng nodded to her, and her feet also turned toward her own room.

Having gone from concubine to maidservant, Xia Heng, despite the switched concept, adapted quite well on the inside.

Please. A maidservant was much more practical! All she had to do was work properly! Become a concubine? Was she worried she wouldn’t die fast enough?

She had to treat him like the ultimate boss above her! Serve him like he was the VVVVIP of a hotel!

First, she would survive these three months. Everything else could wait until Cang Chuli went to Luo City!